Pathway to the Bench: How to Become a U.S. Magistrate Judge

On September 23, 2025, the San Diego FBA hosted "Pathway to the Bench: How to Become a U.S. Magistrate Judge.” Pursuant to the Southern District of California’s General Order 764, there are two open U.S. Magistrate Judge positions due to the upcoming retirements of Magistrate Judges Karen S. Crawford and Barbara L. Major.

Shireen Matthews, Chair of the Merit Selection Panel, provided an overview of the panel’s duties and the application review process for the magistrate judge position. U.S. District Judge Linda Lopez and U.S. Magistrate Judges Allison H. Goddard and Steve B. Chu shared their experiences regarding the application process and discussed the duties of the position. FBA Vice President of Professional Engagement Eva Dech moderated the panel.

With more than 100 participants, the panelists answered several audience questions and provided invaluable guidance on how to be a competitive applicant. The recording of the panel is below.